Lin Shen and Lin Yueru walked onto the martial arts arena from opposite sides. Lin Tiannan and Lin Zhong watched from below, while the estate's servants and maids all rushed over to see the commotion.
Lin Shen looked around and said, "Miss Lin, you have quite a few servants in your household."
Lin Yueru crossed her arms and said, "What, are you afraid of making a fool of yourself? It's not too late to surrender now. By the way, old codger, what's your name? I forgot to ask just now."
"Anuosi. Please advise."
"Such a strange name."
"That's not the point. Let's just hope you aren't the one begging for mercy later."
With that, Lin Shen returned to his original appearance. Lin Tiannan, Lin Yueru, and Lin Zhong stared in astonishment.
Lin Shen called out to Lin Tiannan, "Master Lin, how about lending me a long sword?"
Recovering his wits, Lin Tiannan motioned to Lin Zhong, who picked up an unused sword at random and handed it to Lin Shen.
Lin Shen inspected it and said, "Not bad. But you might as well give me the scabbard too."
Lin Zhong had no choice but to hand over the scabbard as well. Lin Shen slid the sword into the scabbard.
Lin Yueru said, "Hey, are we going to fight or not?"
Lin Shen said, "Miss Lin, there's something I'd like to ask. If..." *Actually, I just wanted to test your current level first,* he thought to himself.
With an impatient expression, Lin Yueru said, "Don't worry, if I beat you up too badly, our Lin Family will cover the medical expenses."
Lin Shen said, "Actually, I wanted to ask—if I end up beating you into a pulp or tearing down this arena later, will I be expected to reimburse you?"
The scene instantly fell silent, save for the metaphorical cawing of a few passing crows... After a moment of quiet, the servants and maids below burst into a chorus of mocking laughter.
"This guy actually thinks he can beat the young mistress? Hilarious!"
"Is this guy's brain broken?"
"Too funny."
Lin Zhong leaned over to Lin Tiannan and whispered, "Master, look at this..."
Lin Tiannan stroked his beard and said, "If that Daoist truly has such capability, letting Ruer suffer a bit would be for the best. It'll keep her from getting too full of herself over minor achievements."
Furious, Lin Yueru snapped, "Old codger, how dare you look down on me! Take this sword!" With that, she lunged at Lin Shen with her sword.
Lin Shen sidestepped and vanished completely. Lin Yueru looked around, failing to find trace of him, and shouted, "Old codger, where are you? Come out! Stop skulking around like a ghost."
At that moment, a maid below called out, "Miss, watch out behind you!"
Lin Yueru glanced back, and sure enough, Lin Shen had slipped behind her. Seeing this, Lin Yueru drew her whip and lashed it toward Lin Shen. Without dodging or evading, Lin Shen caught the whip bare-handed.
Lin Yueru tried to yank it back, but no matter how hard she pulled, it wouldn't budge.
Lin Shen said, "Miss Lin, what's wrong? Didn't you eat breakfast? How about we call a timeout until you've finished your meal?"
Amused to the point of anger, Lin Yueru retorted, "My affairs are none of your concern."
Lin Shen smiled faintly, then gave a sharp tug, pulling Lin Yueru right up to him before flicking her hard on the forehead. Holding her head, Lin Yueru cried out, "Ow, ow, ow, ow..."
Rubbing her forehead, Lin Yueru got to her feet and complained, "Why did you use so much strength? You're going to ruin my looks."
Lin Shen snapped his fingers, and the mark on Lin Yueru's forehead healed almost instantly. Lowering her hands, Lin Yueru stammered, "You..."
Tossing his head to the side, Lin Shen said, "Don't get any funny ideas. I just didn't want you to actually be disfigured. Otherwise, your destined true love would be terribly disappointed."
Lin Yueru lunged with her sword once more, but Lin Shen parried solely with the scabbard, never once drawing the blade. After Lin Yueru had relentlessly attacked for over a dozen rounds, Lin Shen stepped back to put some distance between them.
Seeing her opening, Lin Yueru immediately unleashed a One-Sun Finger, sending a blade of sword energy hurtling toward Lin Shen. Lin Shen tilted his head, and the energy grazed past his cheek, striking the wall behind him and leaving a gaping hole. A thin bloody scratch appeared on Lin Shen's cheek.
The servants and maids below erupted in cheers. Lin Tiannan, however, wore a grim expression as he muttered, "This fellow hasn't been going all out at all; Ruer is in danger. I just hope he doesn't deal a fatal blow."
Remembering the strange sorcery that had left his guards completely unable to get back up, Lin Zhong immediately understood what Lin Tiannan meant.
Lin Yueru said, "How do you like our Lin Family's Seven-Absolute Sword Energy?"
Lin Shen lightly brushed a finger across his cheek, and the scratch vanished instantly. *I was just trying not to kill you, and now you're getting cocky,* Lin Shen thought.
Lin Yueru lunged with her sword again. Lin Shen said, "Looks like I'll have to show you a trick or two. Miss Lin, watch out!"
Lin Yueru shouted, "Taste this lady's sword!" As she thrust forward, Lin Shen vanished once more.
Searching for him, Lin Yueru heard a servant below shout, "He's up there!" Looking up, she saw Lin Shen suspended in mid-air.
Lin Shen infused his long sword with Armament Haki, turning both the blade and the scabbard pitch black. The servants and maids gasped, "Why did that guy's sword turn black?!"
Lin Shen drew the sword from its scabbard and plunged downward. Lin Yueru dodged to the side just in time; she missed the strike, but the sheer shockwave kicked up by the descent made it impossible for her to keep her eyes open.
Landing on his feet, Lin Shen lunged forward again. A servant yelled, "Miss, watch out, he's coming!"
Panicking, Lin Yueru raised her sword to parry. The two weapons collided, and Lin Yueru's sword snapped cleanly in two, the broken blade clattering down onto the arena floor. Everyone below sucked in a sharp breath of terror.
Staring at the fallen blade, Lin Yueru wailed, "Mother—!" Then, pivoting to glare at Lin Shen, she screamed, "I'm going to kill you!"
Drawing her whip, Lin Yueru lashed out at Lin Shen again. He caught the whip once more, but this time directly channeled a surge of electricity through it, shocking Lin Yueru until she shrieked at the top of her lungs. The watching servants and maids watched with their hearts in their throats.
The electrical shock forced Lin Yueru to let go on instinct. Forgetting all about the duel, she rushed over to search for the broken blade. Finding it, she clutched it to her chest, crying and sobbing, "Mother—!"
Remembering that Lin Yueru's mother had passed away long ago, Lin Shen realized that sword must have been a cherished memento left behind for her.
Jumping down from the arena, Lin Shen walked over to Lin Yueru and said softly, "Miss Lin."
She ignored him. Lin Shen continued, "Let me see it. Perhaps I can fix it."
"Liar! I don't believe you."
CANT BE BOTHERED dealing with her stubbornness any further, Lin Shen snatched the broken blade and hilt right out of her hands. Lin Yueru shrieked, "Give that back!"
Lin Shen bellowed, "If you want it fixed, keep your damn mouth shut!"
Startled by Lin Shen's overwhelming aura, Lin Yueru froze. Aligning the broken edges, Lin Shen gently blew a breath across the fracture, and the sword mended itself seamlessly in an instant.
Holding the sword by the tip, Lin Shen handed it back to Lin Yueru and said, "I didn't gauge my strength properly and snapped your sword. I'm sorry."
Taking the sword, Lin Yueru inspected it closely. It was truly repaired. She said, "Anuosi, I was reckless. I'm sorry."
"As for our wager just now..."
"Fine, fine, this lady admits defeat. You won, and a deal's a deal. I'll have my father arrange the martial arts tournament for my hand in marriage."
Right at that moment, a loud *creak-creak* echoed from the martial arts arena, and the entire structure suddenly collapsed into a pile of ruins. Everyone present, save for Lin Tiannan, dropped their jaws in utter shock.
With an awkward smile, Lin Shen said, "Looks like you'll have to rebuild the arena."
Stepping forward, Lin Tiannan asked, "Ruer, after this battle, what are your thoughts?"
Looking thoroughly ashamed and casting her gaze aside, Lin Yueru murmured, "Father, I've been far too arrogant and conceited lately. In this match... I-I was simply outmatched, and I accept my defeat."
Stroke his beard, Lin Tiannan let out a hearty laugh. "It's rare indeed to find someone capable of making Ruer concede so honestly."
At that moment, the system prompt chimed:
"Ding!
Congratulations to the host for completing the main quest.
Reward: 2000 System Coins!
Reward: The spell Corpse-Rise!
Corpse-Rise: A spell that turns the deceased into zombies. Those transformed retain ten times the combat power they had in life, though there is a certain probability they may keep their original consciousness. Please use with caution, Host."
Pondering this, Lin Shen thought, *I have no idea when I'll ever use this, but learning another spell certainly can't hurt.*
Lin Tiannan said, "Daoist Priest, I must ask you to stay for a simple meal and spend the night."
Seeing how late it was, Lin Shen replied, "Since it's getting late and it would be impolite to refuse, I gratefully accept your hospitality."
Laughing heartily, Lin Tiannan called out, "Splendid, splendid! Lin Zhong, prepare the feast!"
With that, the group made their way toward the main hall, while the rest of the servants and maids dispersed.
(End of Chapter 12)